European Court of Human Rights rules against Bulgaria over Roma settlement demolition

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Bulgaria regarding the 2023 demolition of a Roma settlement in the Orlandovtsi district of Sofia. The court found that the destruction violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.

The ruling noted that 56 plaintiffs were denied a meaningful opportunity to challenge the demolitions or receive a prior assessment of the impact on their families. The court criticized the lack of effective judicial protection, noting that residents were excluded from administrative proceedings and struggled to access demolition orders until after they were executed.

In response to these findings, the ECHR awarded each of the 56 plaintiffs 10,000 euros in compensation, with Bulgaria also ordered to pay 18,000 euros in legal costs. The court identified this as part of a systemic issue in Bulgaria, urging legislative changes to ensure that individuals facing home removals have access to judicial review to determine if such actions are lawful and proportionate, even if they lack formal property documentation.